Fresno Frugalista

Raisins Made with Love

2018-11-05T22:24:00.001-08:00

Every August in Madera, over 10,000 volunteers gather to pick grapes from an 80-acre vineyard that is solely devoted to producing raisins used for humanitarian aid.

If you have been wondering where I have been, let me first say that being the mother of five is no joke, and the older they get the more their needs change and become more dynamic. It's hard to meet the needs of a 3 year-old and a twelve year-old and every age in between. That said, in October Sammy and I were a part of The Big Tell a film contest that asks film-makers to share stories around the Central Valley. I received a grant from the Central Valley Community Foundation and we were able to complete this video and it was such a labor of love. We both spend some quality time at the vineyard and even brought our kids along to give service. I got to work my first project with Sammy that I got to participate in every step of the way, even some of my footage made the final cut. Our mini-documentary is gaining some traction on facebook and has received over 22k views! The CVCF has even shared that they have members of the community calling in asking who they should get in contact with to come pick grapes with us next year. This is dear to my heart because the hope was to inspire others to serve in the vineyard and in the community in general.

Hugs,

Sarah

The Children's Place Denim $7.80 and more

2018-09-05T12:28:00.001-07:00

The Children's Place is running a promotion on top of their discounted prices that includes free shipping.

Right now if you spend $20 you get two $10 off a $20 purchase vouchers to be used September 11th- September 24th.

Great deals on t-shirts ($3.80), denim ($7.80), and accessories (nylons $1.80- I get these for my daughters choir performances).

If you have never used The Children's Place, I find it is about Old Navy quality. Happy shopping!

Alluvial Community Garden

2018-02-07T22:09:00.002-08:00

I have to say although I've always liked the idea of a community garden, I've never put much effort to see how to join one here in Fresno until my friend signed right up.

Alluvial Community Garden is leasing land behind Unitarian Universalist Church to individuals and families at amazingly good rates in my opinion.

Prices are as follows:
$45 a year for a 4' x 8' plot, $65 a year for a 4' x 16' plot, and $85 a year for a 4' x 24' plot.

Naturally you are expected to donate time to the community's maintenance among other things.

The garden is located between Willow and Chestnut on Alluvial. For more information visit. http://www.alluvialcommunitygarden.org I'm going there on Friday to check it out!

The Greatest Showman

2018-02-06T23:01:00.002-08:00

"A human soul, ‘that God has created and Christ died for,’ is not to be trifled with. It may tenant the body of a Chinaman, a Turk, an Arab or a Hottentot – it is still an immortal spirit." -P.T. Barnum

The Greatest Showman is the kind of movie that no matter how many times you watch it, it will not grow old. It was more serious than I anticipated, but decidedly not Les Mis but doesn't drag on the way Singing in the Rain does (the girls of all seasons everyone?). I look forward to cleaning and singing around the house to a new soundtrack. I must say this is the first musical that I was disappointed there were not more songs. Efron and Jackman are an excellent combo in tails and top hats and quite the birthday gift for my sister. The dancers- amazing. The singing- I did get chills.

I am grateful for the message of inclusion and the undefeatable human spirit (but don't expect too much from the film-remember not Les Mis). Forget the fact that if you spend any time even on the wiki most of the story is very very loosely based on life amongst other issues, but are we all being subject to a hoax? Did we not smile?

Well done, well done my friends.

Not sure what a Hottentot is.

Goodnight all.

Thoughts on Moms

2018-02-05T22:55:00.000-08:00

Moms Rock

This post is mostly random thoughts and I have no plans to organize it as it is part of my goal to write every day so read at your own risk.

I have known many amazing women in my life that were never mothers and they have been powerful influences in my life. Some of my additional "mothers" or mentors were found outside the home.

I do find the older I get the more "feminist" I become, but that is only a little bit of what this post is about.

Why has our society as a whole moved away from seeing motherhood as a full worthy goal for a young woman to have? Why do we have to go out and discover ourselves? What if we already know who we are? When did we become hostile to procreation and bringing up the next generation for the sheer joy of having a family? When did propagating the species become a negative thing?

Imagine a bunch of teenagers, sitting together in a living room, happily getting along. In walks the mom with a plate of cookies that she just baked, do the teenagers A. slap the cookies to the ground and tell her "Get a job! Do something with your life? or do the teenagers B. cheerfully take a cookie or two and thank her for being thoughtful and kind.

B. Right? Hopefully!

In the true spirit of womanhood and feminism shouldn't we celebrate and support each other in all our endeavors? I know there are some people we just love to hate. We get giddy with schaudenfreude when they mess up because generally their perfect pinterest hair, and perfect pinterest house, and perfect pinterest family is so out of reach to us that its annoying. But we never know what is really going on. The Mom might be on antidepressants and seriously OCD in a real way that she struggles with every day.

This is one of the biggest problems with social media. It presents a world filled with tailored propaganda in which main people reign as the star even with their humble-brag posts. Don't get me wrong I love social media, but I try to keep it all in perspective and use it for good. I think it's a wonderful way to get a pulse on people and connect with them so you can see past the pictures and get to know what is going on in their lives so you know when to lend a hand or express a kind word to brighten their day.

My biggest struggle as a mother is not necessarily connecting with my kids, but I fear hearing their struggles. I fear hearing about any horribleness they have had to endure. It hurts so much and its difficult to come up with the right words to help them through their emotions. You hear people that go on and on about how their parents were so wise and always had the right thing to say and for me there is so much pressure that I want to run away. It's so hard, but I put on a brave face and stay where I am and listen and hope that it's enough.

For those of you that know what to say bless you. There are moments, even with five kids, that I think, Aww. I'm a real mom now. Maybe it's impostor syndrome or something, I mean, I was 16 for like 8 years.

I'm tired, that's all I got ya'll. Give your mom a phone call and if you can't, honor her in some way that would make her happy. Hugs. Goodnight.

Family History Community Event

2018-02-04T20:02:00.001-08:00

Discover your Heritage is a free community event
February 24, 2018, 10am-1pm

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Fresno California East Stake
1880 Gettysburg Avenue
Clovis, California 93611

You can register through Eventbrite.

For more information visit and register to attend up to 3 FREE (50 minutes) classes at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/discover-your-heritage-tickets-38420859826

Come to Discover Your Heritage and learn how to strengthen your family across generations. Hear encouraging messages from experts in the industry and other popular speakers who will help inspire you to:

- Seek your ancestors and invite them to your next family reunion
- Build your family tree
- Discover and share your family's stories
- Furthering family history efforts using the latest and greatest technology available today

Whether you’re just starting your family tree, an avid hobbyist, or an experienced researcher, we have something for everyone!

Contact Steve Mecham with any questions steve_phs@hotmail.com.

Family History Activities for the Whole Family

Exhibit Hall Exhibitors (See below for listing)
Free Family History Classes (See below for listing)
Children's "Make & Take" Activities - Ages 3 and up
Relative Finder - Which of your friends might be your cousins?
Free Photo Booth - Period costumes will be available. Wear your own if you want!

Attendance is FREE! Just click the REGISTER button to get started. Pre-registration required.

Exhibitors and Activities

Afro-American Historical & Genealogical Society of Central California
Daughters of the American Revolution
Daughters of Utah Pioneers
Fresno County Genealogical Society
FindAGrave.com
FamilySearch Support Experts
FamilySearch Indexing
FamilySearch Memories Gallery
FamilySearch Web-based Indexing Station
FamilySearch.org Online Book Collection
Chukchansi Indian Tribe Heritage Display
Family History 2.0, A New Generation of Genealogy
Mayflower Society
Billion Graves Eagle Service Project
Relative Finder - Discover how you are related to presidents, the famous and friends
Kodak Scanner Station - Bring a USB thumb drive to save your scanned photos
All the Stories (stories.FamilyFoundApp.com) Station
Photo Booth - Period costumes will be available - FREE
Family History Center Exhibit
Ship Brooklyn - Did your relatives help settle California?

Fresno film entered in Uber contest

2018-01-17T10:33:00.004-08:00

Local filmmaker Orlando Gomez entered into a Uber contest on Youtube. Sammy (my husband) helped make this. The prize? $10,000!

Support your fellow Fresnans!

Help them win the contest by adding your thumbs up on there 90 second Youtube video "Spanish Lessons."

It did show up as flagged in my restricted mode (on youtube) today, but I promise there is nothing remotely inappropriate about it.

Thanks and enjoy!

Sarah

Minecraft and Days- Behavior Modification

2018-01-09T15:51:00.002-08:00

So when my son entered the institution, I mean educational system, he experienced the struggle that most boys do- he is extremely wiggly. Classic motivational techniques weren't enough to help him get through the day without a yellow or red (both are bad).

No amount of coaxing was working until...Minecraft. Yes that bane of parents everywhere.

Minecraft became our incentive for my then 6 year old- and it worked!

A new discipline system was born in our home. For every poor day of behavior "a day" is given, which isn't really "a day" but instead, it was a removal of video games privileges. All video games are banned until the "day" is either over, or until he/she works it off.

Soon, the "days" were extended to include all the children's infractions. We also decided that if a child ends up with two or more "days" then any and all screen time is out. No movies, no cartoons, etc. until the "days" are over.

We found quickly that the "days" were being given out liberally so we tried to come up with ways to work off the "days" to make the crime fit the punishment. For example, if you got a "day" for not cleaning up your room, you could remove the "day" by cleaning up the room, but if you chose not to, you could wait (without video games) until the next day. Screaming in the car = unloading the dishwasher.

It's been over a year now, and I'm happy to say it continues to be the best system we have yet to come up with. It applies equally to all the ages between 4 and 11 years old. We have a chart with each name on it and sticky notes that they post on their name according to the number of days the have. This way we remain consistent and they get to have the satisfaction of removing them when the work is done or the time is up. I feel it gives the kids control over their situation. They start with a privilege. If they misbehave they have a choice whether to work it off, or wait it out.

The default privilege we allot for video games is 30 minutes each. We've also decided to encourage my son to draw, so he has to draw for 30 minutes before playing video games. Yesterday was his first day doing so, and he drew the knights from Castle Crashers. Then he played the game.

Our system is very similar to token behavior modification systems that are heavily backed by research in classrooms and special education. Learn more at this link. http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Token-economy-system.html You can adjust it to fit your child's needs including building tokens to earn something (5 stickers for a treasure chest toy). The main thing is to pick something you can stick with because if you don't remain consistent, the kids will lose faith in what you are trying to do and all effectiveness will be lost.

How NOT to spend

2018-01-06T23:22:00.002-08:00

It's a new year and most of us use these dark days to swear to do better in the next twelve months. January comes around and after the happy frenzy of the holidays we have to face the reality of our unique financial situations. Regardless of how much we make, we all struggle in our consumeristic culture not to spend more than we make. So in that spirit this post is born.

How NOT to spend.

Step one: STOP. Stop spending, or stop shopping might be more accurate.
Try to go one day without buying anything at all.
Put into perspective what you really need.
Basic consumer needs include shelter, food, clothing, shoes, hygienic staples, water, trash service, heating/cooling, fuel. Next tier would be common sense necessities like cars, bikes, insurance, internet, work related items, phone and so on. After that I would include ongoing education, recreation, and entertainment like books, movies, subscriptions like Netflix, camping supplies, sports equipment, board games etc.

Where is the rest of the money going? Do you actually use or use up everything you have? Do you buy things out of habit or because it's a good deal? Do you keep stuff because it's good stuff? Why?

Access what you have.
It might sound hilarious, but I will get so far behind on laundry that I am convinced that my kids have no clothes. Nothing fits them. I finally do ALL the laundry and magically, I have more clothes than I can handle. So many clothes they won't fit in the drawers. So it seems my problem is not the amount of clothing, it's my habits.

So think about your stuff, how does it serve you? Do you feel duty bound to keep it or would you be better off with something you prefer?

Access your resources.
How can you do it for free? The library has much more than books. They loan music, dvds, toys, audiobooks and more. They offer events and educational lectures. Living Social, Groupon, and Fresno Dealsaver all provide access to deeply discounted offers from a myriad of services. This is a good way to try out new things with half the risk. Do you like to yardsale? Thrift shop? Have you ever even tried it? Do you speak up to family and friends who might have what you need? It's ridiculous the amount of stuff that ends up in the landfills, and there are local groups on facebook, apps, Craigslist and more devoted to person to person exchanges free or otherwise. But don't get caught up in the mentality of this is good stuff, this is a good deal, just for the thrill of the chase. Love your money's buying power, its power to do good, and the space in your home more than the chase.

Set a Limit
On a whole I try not to buy anything that has not been previously decided on before I enter the store.(Additionally, I have an idea of what it's going to cost [and that doesn't mean it has to be the cheapest.]) This doesn't have to perfectly concrete, but I give myself limits to curb my spending. For instance, my limit for purchasing kids t-shirts is $4. Kids rarely wear clothing long enough to wear it out, so the quality of a $4 shirt is not my concern. I buy them at Target on clearance, or online on sites like The Children's Place (on clearance). Most the time we happily accept hand-me-downs and very little goes towards purchasing clothing. Having a cut off can really help with budgeting, along with a nice spreadsheet to document all your spending. Hunt for what you need and be strong enough to walk out of a place if they don't have what you are looking for- don't settle.

Actively Decide
Are you better off purchasing a movie than taking your whole family to the movie theater or is it the experience you want? Actively decide on what and where you will spend your money, don't let whim, sales and product placement be the reason you spend. Spending with a goal to support a specific shop is a worthy goal. Don't depend on retail therapy to make yourself happy, in the long run, self control and being purposeful will make you much more happy- no buyers remorse or hiding from your spouse the fact that your spending got away from you. (The two of you should be doing your finances together and holding one another accountable. We always discuss our purchases [even $5 purchases go on the spreadsheet] with one another to keep track of our finances.)

Focus on Quality
When we NEED something that has nothing to do with whether it will fit next season, I do focus on quality. Confession time: I am a terrible gift giver when it comes to my husband. I don't know why, it just is. So this Christmas I should have gotten him a leatherman. It's a useful, quality item and solid, something he wants, but due to a miscommunication, I ended up on this adventure for a myriad of things that still cost the same (actually slightly more) and added up to a lesser gift in total because of the randomness of it all (a comic book, a Google play card, a surprise miniature etc). They were all things he liked, but if I was going to spend $40 It would have been much better as one solid item- does this make sense? It's like when someone spends $20 on your kid at the Dollar Store when they could've bought your kid a quality doll, set or action figure that was 92% less likely to end up in the trash the next week.

Shop Local
When I shop for gifts in particular, I try to support local shops that I know and enjoy and want to stick around. This will almost always mean it costs more than Amazon, but I know exactly who I'm supporting because I am usually looking at them while they ring up my item at the register. I like to know I am contributing to my community so that my shopping has a cause and paying a little extra is well deserved.

Food.
Food shopping is a whole other post topic and difficult because what you eat has such a life of it's own tied up in all sorts of drama. In some ways though it comes back to the same thing. What basics do you need? Set a limit, access what you have, access your resources (like do you know someone with an orange tree?) and actively decide on what you need beforehand so you are not caught up in the shiny isles around you.

Other advice includes: Don't shop hungry. Buy produce in season. Don't drive all around and spend more on gas to save a few bucks. If you have stores that are part of your routine, learn which ones have the best deals on what you're looking for. I always by wipes and diapers at Target, Up and Up is the best quality for the lowest price I can find and it works well for me. Find your "best deals" and stick to them. Couponing works great for some, but if all I'm buying is food with off flavors I don't even like, then I save more money, effort and time not buying anything at all.

Happy New Year and I hope that your families and spending habits are healthy.

Cheers!

Sarah

Free Workshop: Learn to Prune at Belmont Nursery

2018-01-05T21:39:00.002-08:00

Saturday January 20, 2018, Belmont Nursery is offering three free workshops to learn how to prune Japanese Maples (9am), Fruit Trees (11am) and Roses (1pm). You do need to register and can register for as many as you want. Visit there website and register with this link http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=kd5omucab&oeidk=a07eeywxobl855a5b01

Sign me up for the fruit trees and roses. My mom's roses are always so spindly, maybe I'll see you there! Educate yourself.

Belmont Nursery
7730 E. Belmont

Fresno, CA 93737

Questions?
Contact
Danielle Handler
Belmont Nursery
559-255-6645
danielle@belmontnursery.com

How can I do it for free?

2018-01-04T22:45:00.003-08:00

The City of Fresno offered free soccer practices and games in the Fall 2017 through parks and recreation.

As a parent of five children, I know that it's pricey doing well, anything really, so I wanted to share ways I have figured out how to do it for free.

1. Volunteer: That's right your time is valuable. Who doesn't want volunteers? Most large events need them one way or another. Want to run a 5k? You can often volunteer to sign people in before hand and help clean up afterward, but during the event you are free to run- for free! Volunteering is a wonderful way to give to your community, meet new people and participate in local events you may have to pay admission for otherwise. Volunteering often expects a certain level of professionalism while you are "on the job" but once you have given your time you are often welcome to walk around and visit.

2. Participate: Host a party many independent consultants offer gifts for their hosts. House Party is a website where you can apply to host parties (they supply the goodies) in exchange for social media shout outs. You can be an extra, actor, or stage hand and it may not pay, or pay much, but at least you get to be a part of the magic. Community theaters, libraries, churches and similar organizations offer opportunities to be involved with no cost to you.

3. Work the Event: Be a part of the crew. Not only is it free, but you are getting paid something. If you are filming the game, then you get to watch it as well. Press passes to conventions are one example of how people get to work and play at the same time (Naturally you have to be honest and actually work for a blog or media outlet for this to work).

4. Trade: If you're willing to work for it, you might be able to negotiate a good trade. I use my swim lessons for trade, and my husband uses photography. Having a service you can offer is valuable because aside from your time and effort, (ideally) it doesn't cost you anything out of pocket. Be creative and speak up. I try to do direct value to value trades like $200 worth in swim for $200 worth in piano lessons. Heck even babysitting is a great trade commodity between friends.

5. Bring a Friend/Guest Passes: Many studios, gyms, and admission based venues like waterparks, zoos and the like offer promotions that allow members or season pass holders to bring-a-friend for free on certain days or at specific times.

6. Trial Periods: Trial periods are great, but can be trappy. You have to have incredible strong self control and set a reminder on the calendar to cancel memberships to not get dinged financially. Sometimes subscriptions will charge automatically- so keep careful watch on the credit card account so you can call immediately to cancel if you forget and get charged.

7. Watch for Free Event promotions: Free events come around now and then with companies that are admission based. The best way to hear about these promotions is through email lists/newsletters and social media. Locally the Central California Parent Magazine is a excellent resources for local events.

8. Enter Giveaways: You can't win if you don't enter. If you focus on local and low entry giveaways, your chances of winning will be much greater. Just take the time to enter- but don't spend hours entering giveaways cause your time is valuable too.
Not a freebee, but silent auction fundraisers are also great. Sometimes they have more donations than bidders so you can really get good deals at huge discounts (and your money is going to a good cause).

Good luck and have fun. Please share any ways that you have learned how to do it for free.

You Can't Go Home Again

2018-01-01T22:24:00.000-08:00

There's a book titled You Can't Go Home Again. I can't say I've ever read the book by Thomas Wolfe, but the idea has been something that has flowed in and out of my mind like a revolving door ever since the year my parents died. I was thirty, with my fourth baby and in my grief, I wanting nothing more you return to my bedroom with emerald green carpet and the pink and blue buttons that lit up my phone. The buttons on the handset where your palm should be which meant whenever I leaned it on my shoulder the speaker screamed at me and whoever I was talking to. It was a terrible design, but a birthday present from my father so I kept it.

I am the youngest of my siblings and because of a four year age gap between my sister and I, I was privy to the extra attention and loose reigns that came with being the baby. How I long for the freedom I once had! Visiting my mother's home today (built by my father) was a strong reminder that you can't go home again. I've always hated change. We moved when I was eight and I would cry (for years) if we can even close to the route to our old home. I cried over trees being cut down. I cried when my brother moved out. I've been sad to see the creek change. I've always related deeply to Joe March in Little Women for her hatred of change.

I think the concept you can't go home again is rooted to the fact that we grow and move on and especially when it comes to our youth and childhood, our lives will never be as they once were when we were home with our parents. I've realized my great fondness for Star Trek the Next Generation is not because of the show itself (which is good) but because I have memories of my family sitting and the dinner table and watching it together. I also will forever love Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune because that was when my whole family was together (pre-divorce). It didn't matter what we were doing in particular, but it did matter that we were doing it together.

So let us begin a new year, strong and patient with what lies ahead. Let's build family traditions that tie us together beyond our physical homes and connect us in ways that can positively impact generations. We may not be able to go home again, because our lives are always changing but we can have home in our hearts. Home is where the heart is.

(Day 1 of my goal to write every day. #2018)

Photograph the Clutter

2017-07-15T09:10:00.002-07:00

Red Dragon Touring Company: A dance and acting group from the Renaissance fair circuit I joined as a kid. I scanned the outdated binder I had been holding on for years because I wanted the info, but was unlikely to use it.

I don't have a lot of space. I've found that since high school, maybe even middle school, I've had papers. Loose papers everywhere. Back then I had an "important papers box" I kept everything in. Sadly, even with a filing cabinet, things haven't changed much, but now I have a way to at least cut down on the paper pile.

First, if it is important and can't simply be entered on the calendar with details included, it gets to stay in the box until it's dealt with (stuff like permission slips)

Otherwise, Photograph or Scan and Toss! (in the recycling of course)

If it's not worthy of being framed or in some sort of memory book aside from taxes, having a digital copy is probably all you need. Is you child really going to want the hideous blob of a salt dough snowman they made when they were four? Or is a picture good enough? The picture will probably do the job. This works best for me so I don't feel like I have to keep each adorable scrap of mommy and me stick figures which I love.

I often take pictures and so when I need to dig up the phone number of my child's teacher, I scroll from my pictures uploaded in August and bam! It's there.

I understand, not everyone has the digital room for photo storage. Obviously, there are other strategies you can use to keep track of that sort of thing, but as long as they free you from the paper clutter, do it!

Do it! Tell the snowman thank you, and toss it. The photo will be enough. I promise.

Pizza This City: Meet N Eat

2016-12-08T09:39:00.000-08:00

Pizza This City is a pizza lovers Meet-N-Eat event in Fresno, California. Each month, they get together to visit and share pizza at Pizzerias in the Fresno/Clovis area. It's a great way to support and try different restaurants, and different pizzas! You can purchase Pizza This City shirts and proceeds go towards gifting pizzas to the homeless.

This final meeting of the year is tonight!
December 8, 2016 at 7pm
Chicago Pizza with a Twist at Shaw and Marks.
(559) 277-3737

Try Chicago style Indian pizza
3050 W. Shaw Ave Ste 105 Fresno, California

Questions? Ask the event organizers on Facebook.

Following meetings are usually held on Thursdays within the first two weeks of the month.
Like their page Pizza This City on Facebook and watch for future events.

Harry Potter Magical Ball with Barnes & Noble

2016-12-07T07:55:00.001-08:00

December 9th at 7pm in Fresno, California and around the nation Barnes & Noble is hosting a Harry Potter Magical Ball. You are invited to come dressed as your favorite character and enjoy music, dancing, giveaways, and activities. I've attended other release parties for Harry Potter in the past and they are well organized and they have crafts. The release party for The Cursed Child included a sorting and that was really fun. They gave us buttons and magnets according to our houses. (For you curiosity, we have two ravenclaws and two gryffindors.)

Harry Potter Magical Ball
7pm-?
Villagio Retail Center
7849 North Blackstone Avenue Fresno, CA 93720
559-437-0484

Christmas Tree Lane

2016-12-05T13:15:00.001-08:00

Christmas Tree Lane is located in Fresno, California, and is its 94th year. Located in Old Fig Garden, you can travel down Van Ness Avenue starts at Shields and goes to Shaw, about two miles.

The final walking night is December 13, 2016, from 6pm-10pm. I suggest if you want to avoid the crowds, get started right at 6pm.

When its comes to little kids, I would suggest having a stroller or wagon for anyone four and under because between the cold, crowds, and distance they will slow them down quickly-mittens, gloves, scarves, blankets are needed. I like to park on a side street in the middle (like Holland) and walk to Shaw and back when I'm with little ones.

Bus rides during the walking nights are offered by Tree Fresno. Contact them at 559-221-5556.

There are some vendors who sell light up toys (so bring cash if you are interested) and glow sticks are pretty popular. Sometimes you will get lucky and someone will be selling hot chocolate. Santa, school choirs and more can be seen on the walking nights. (December 3rd was the last one).

Driving times: 6pm-10pm on Sunday through Thursday
6pm-11pm on Friday and Saturday.

When you drive there is a radio station committed to Christmas Tree Lane that plays Christmas music. You can also spot all of Santa's reindeer en route. Donations are accepted in two locations to help with the energy costs that come with the Christmas lights.

Christmas Tree Lane is a free event and a holiday tradition for anyone in the Fresno, Clovis and surrounding areas. It remains open through Christmas Day.
For more questions visit http://www.christmastreelane.com

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Alternative- Better than the Gift Card

2016-12-05T11:27:00.000-08:00

A special thank you to Lynndee Theson for this excellent guest post.

My name is Sarah Gonzales and I fully endorse this message.

Top gift ideas for the hard-to-shop-for people in your life.

The holiday season is upon us. Some say it’s the most wonderful time of the year. For me it is the most stressful time of the year. That isn’t to say I don’t love the holidays, I am just one of millions of people who go out shopping for gifts each year and walk out of a store with more gifts for myself than the people on my list. I know what I want. Not when I am asked, when I see it in the store. It’s a vicious cycle, when asked what would you like for Christmas the answer is “I don’t know”. As soon as I step into Target though, I see all kinds of things I want. This year, when making wish lists for my family I noticed instead of actual gifts, wish lists were filled with gift cards. So I thought, there has to be something I can buy my family that is more personal than a gift card or money. I came to a middle ground. They aren’t really wrap it up and put a box under the tree gifts but they aren’t gift cards either.

Memberships

Memberships can make the best gifts. Unlike some presents, a membership lasts an entire year. This is my list of suggested memberships to give as a gift this year.

Zoo membership

Zoo memberships are great for families with kids. My zoo membership not only gets two adults and all dependent age children admission into the zoo, I also get a discount at the gift shop and snack bars. During special events members get special pricing as well. Different Zoo’s may have more or less benefits so be sure to look into the zoo closest to you to find out what if offered. Memberships are good for 1 year.

AAA membership

You don’t have to be insured with AAA to have a AAA membership. Membership benefits include roadside service, discounts at many hotels, restaurants, and car repair places, and a lot of AAA locations offer some DMV services. There are three different levels of membership with the classic one costing $56 a year. Classic membership comes with 5 miles of free towing, free gas delivery, and $60 car locksmith reimbursement. This is a nice gift for anyone who drives. Find out more about a AAA membership here.

Rei membership

For a one time fee of $20 an REI membership can be purchased. This is the gift that really does keep giving. Each year, members get a 10% back member divided on purchases made at REI throughout the year. The divided is only good at REI but there are so many things to buy that it won’t be hard to pick something. Other membership benefits include access to REI garage sale and member only specials. Don’t know what REI is? Check it out here.

Amazon Prime membership

I love amazon. That is why I am a prime member. A prime membership get you free two day shipping on many products as well as access to thousands of movies and TV shows through prime video. At $99 at year that is less than $10 a month making it less than Netflix with many of the same programs and other added benefits. Prime members can also borrow a book each month from the KIndle Owners Lending Library. Interested in Prime? Get more info here.

Wholesale Club memberships

Wholesale clubs are popular for small businesses and large families. They allow customers to shop for everything from bulk food and beverages to furniture and electronics. Memberships need to be renewed yearly so these can make great gifts year after year.

Costco membership

For $55 you can gift a gift a Costco membership good for a year. It will allow the recipient to shop at Costco and get amazing deals on bulk items. Costco has a pharmacy, optical department, tire shop, and a snack bar. On top of all that, Costco has a very generous return policy. Interested in a Costco membership for you or someone else? Learn more here.

Sam’s Club membership

Sam’s Club is also a wholesale warehouse. A basic membership is $45 and allows the member to shop in Sam’s Club and save lots of money by buying items in bulk. Sam’s Club has an optical department, battery and tire department, and instant savings on products. Find out more about Sam’s Club membership here.

Subscriptions

These days there are subscriptions for everything. Some subscriptions allow subscribers to pay monthly for a service or product while others can be paid for a set amount of time like 3 months, 6 months, or a year. Subscriptions are a perfect gift for anyone. You just have to find the right subscription. Here are some of my favorites.

Netflix

Netflix is a subscription service that streams many TV show, movies, and original content. Plans start at $7.99 per month. This can be a great way to give someone something you know they will use. Netflix makes it easy for current subscribers to apply a gift code to their account so they will not be charged until the gift code has been used. Buy a netflix gift card at most local retailers.

Hulu

Hulu allows subscribers to watch current episodes of TV shows the same week it is airded on television. Hulu also has exclusive and original shows as well as some movies. Hulu plans start at $7.99 with commercials or for $11.99 subscribers can watch Hulu without commercials. Hulu gift cards can be purchased at many local retailers including Target, Best Buy, and Walgreens. Just add the gift code to an account and don’t pay again until all the gift code has been used.

Magazine

Magazine subscriptions are a nice option since there are so many to chose from. From current events, fashion, puzzles, entertainment, news, sports, cars, kids, parenting, and home you are sure to find something for everyone.

Newspaper

By choosing local newspapers you can get up to date news daily or choose to only get the paper on weekends or just Sunday. Most Sunday papers will have ads and coupons. This is an ideal gift for any couponers you may know.

Box subscriptions

Give someone a box subscription and they will receive a box in the mail with whatever you pick. From nail polish and makeup to toys and food, the possibilities are endless as more and more companies are using box subscriptions to create interest in their products.

Seasonal Passes

Waterpark season pass

This can be such an awesome gift for the summer. Waterparks have lots of waterslides, a tide pool, a kids water play area, and snack bars. They are great places to go for a few hours a day during the summer when it is really hot and stay active. Passes are sold per person so it get expensive for large families. This is a nice gift for parents to buy for their own kids.

Ski Resort season pass

This is a great gift for people who like to ski or snowboard. This is also one of the most expensive gifts on my list. I’m sure lots of people would love a ski resort season pass but it is not in everyone's budget.

National Park Pass

American the Beautiful Pass

Passes for National Parks make great gifts especially for people who are active. The America the Beautiful pass is good for over 2,000 national parks and federal recreation areas throughout the United States including the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Death Valley, and Yellowstone. These passes can be purchased for $80 and cover entrance fees for a year. To give you an idea of the value of the America the Beautiful pass, a seven day pass to get into Yosemite is $30. For people that plan on going more than 3 times a year, this really pays off. Plus is can be used for lots of other places. Get more information at https://store.usgs.gov/pass/PassIssuanceList.pdf.

Don’t stress this holiday season about gifts. Pick one of the useful gifts from this list and make gift giving easy this year. Do you have a favorite gift to give or get? Don’t hold out, share your thoughts.

Lynndee Theson

View more of Lynndee'swork at http://www.dystopianshuffle.com, http://realhousewifewithkids.blogspot.com

Clovis Children's Electric Christmas Parade

2016-12-01T21:09:00.002-08:00

If you have been to the Clovis Children's Electric Christmas Parade you know it is very cold, but has fun lit-up floats. The parade is from 6:30pm-8:30pm on December 3rd.

I found that when I went a while back with toddlers-I was unprepared. It was colder than I expected and we couldn't see well because it was surprisingly crowded. Bring gloves, scarves, and blankets in addition to dressing warm. If you are in it for the long haul, come early and camp out your spot. Some people begin camping in the morning, but 4pm-4:30pm is probably early enough.

Walking vendors often sell light up toys and headbands to help you join in the festivity.

This is a free event sponsored by the Old Town Clovis Kiwanis

12 Days of Christmas Giveaway by CCParent

2016-12-01T10:45:00.000-08:00

Hey, if you're a parent, you have likely suffered in some pediatricians or dentists office and been happy to discover Central California Parent Magazine. They offer a calendar for local kids/family events among other parenting articles and more.

This month they are offering a 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway online. One entry per family, and you can enter for each day- which means, if you want to enter for each contest, you need to send in 12 separate entries. So it takes a minute, but the best thing about local giveaways is you have great odds. Good luck!

Central California Parent Magazine: 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

Gingerbread Village at the Fresno Airport

2016-11-30T11:52:00.004-08:00

Tomorrow evening, December 1st, 2016 from 6:30pm-8pm you can visit Santa at the Fresno airport to enjoy free photos with Santa and his elves.

Enjoy holiday cookies, hot chocolate, refreshments and entertainment by Clark Intermediate-Sotto Voice Choir and Roosevelt School of Arts Choir.

There will be an appearance by the Gingerbread Man.

Parking is free with validation.

The airport is located at 5175 E Clinton Way Fresno CA 93727

Fresno Christmas Parade

2016-11-30T11:44:00.001-08:00

December 3, 2016, is the 87th Annual Downtown Christmas Parade in Fresno, California.

It takes place from 11am-1pm

The parade will begin at H St and Inyo and will travel to Mono, to Van Ness to Kern and then down Kern.

If you have questions you can email events@downtownfresno.org

Merry Christmas!

Chosen Frozen Yogurt and Low Sensory Meeting with Santa

2016-11-29T20:59:00.000-08:00

Direct from the Simpletix Chosen Frozen Yogurt Event description:

A visit to Santa at the local mall is a time-honored tradition for most families. However, if your child has sensory issues or special needs of any kind, you know that the noise, lights, long lines, and crowds, make for a stressful outing.

Chosen Yogurt is hosting a private event on Saturday, December 10th, beginning at 10 am for families with children who would benefit from a low-key meeting with Santa while enjoying some frozen yogurt!

The 1 hour time slots are by reservation only and cost just $5 per family including a small cup of frozen yogurt for everyone! We will eliminate crowds, silence the music, lessen the choices, and increase the staffing to ensure a pleasant experience. Story time, a simple craft, and a take-your-own photo opportunity will also be provided.

Get your Chosen Frozen Yogurt Tickets- $5 per family at simpletix.com

Chosen Frozen Yogurt is located on Chestnut near Shepherd

8967 N Chestnut Ave

Fresno CA 93720

Phone: (559) 299-2595

Fresno Cultural Arts District Park Grand Opening Celebration

2016-11-26T10:53:00.000-08:00

Celebrate the opening of the brand new Cultural Arts District Park with live entertainment, food trucks, artist exhibits, and local beer.

December 1, 2016 from 4pm-8pm

Starting at 4 PM, Trey Tosh takes the stage, followed by a dedication ceremony at 5 PM with Mayor Swearengin, then Rockville closing out the night until 8 PM.
This event is open to the public and welcomes all ages.

Visit Facebook for updates. Questions? Call (559) 320-1120

Cultural Arts District Park is located at 1935 Calaveras St. Fresno, CA 93721

Santa on the Train- a Fresno to Hanford and back again

2016-11-25T08:17:00.000-08:00

Sorry this is last minute, if you can't make it, at least you can plan for it next year!

This is the message from the Facebook event.

Bring the kids to meet Santa at the Amtrak San Joaquins Station in Downtown Fresno on November 25! Santa will arrive at 10am for photos, hot cocoa and cookies. Then, go on an adventure with Santa on Amtrak San Joaquins!

You can board the 710 southbound train with Santa at 11:44am – you will arrive in Hanford at 12:19pm!
You can head with Santa to the Hanford Carnegie Museum to light the Christmas tree, too!
If you bring a can of food with you, you'll get a free photo with Santa! Santa will be at the Hanford Carnegie Museum until 2pm.
Look for Amtrak San Joaquins & Santa at the Downtown Hanford Christmas Parade at 6pm!

Make sure you purchase your tickets for the 710 southbound train at amtraksanjoaquins.com - this is the train Santa will be on. If you're planning to return back to Fresno by train, don't forget to buy your return tickets, too. There are afternoon and early evening northbound trains from Hanford to Fresno:

717 northbound train departs Hanford at 2:47pm and arrives in Fresno at 3:22pm
719 northbound train departs Hanford at 5:05pm and arrives in Fresno at 5:43pm
703 northbound train departs Hanford at 7:46pm and arrives in Fresno at 8:23pm

Santa Claus Lane

2016-11-24T14:32:00.002-08:00

Santa Claus Lane is a 16 house subdivision in Clovis, California, that coordinates their lights to music to put on a fun festive show from 6pm-10pm each night.

The first walking night is tomorrow, November 25, 2016, and this is a nice alternative if your kids are little and you are not up to the time commitment that comes with Christmas Tree Lane (first walking night Saturday,December 3rd, second and last Tuesday, December 13th). Other alternatives for walking and lights include Candy Cane Lane (aka Cindy Lane) and Huntington Blvd along with other smaller displays.

Happy Christmas!